Jeff Van Gundy offered up the theory that his three point guards haven’t performed well this season because they may be looking over their shoulders.

Strugglng Howard Eisley, the backup to Mark Jackson, said that was nonsense, and his poor play has nothing to do with it. Eisley still can’t shoot straight, going 1 for 6 in 14 minutes yesterday as Van Gundy stuck with him for one more game. Charlie Ward is waiting in the wings.

“I think it’s part of our job to go out and perform,” Eisley said. “For me personally, I could do a much better job than what I’ve been doing on the basketball court. I can’t worry about other things. I just have to worry about playing to the best of my ability. To this point, I haven’t done that. I have to keep working, keep trying to play better than I have. I can’t control the other stuff. I just try to control my play.”

Before the game, Van Gundy was asked if he was surprised the point-guard play hasn’t been better considering the intense competition. “Maybe it’s one of the reasons why. I don’t know,” Van Gundy said. “Sometimes that can effect your performance too, just having that pressure.”

Eisley, whose been a solid career 3-point shooter, said of his shooting woes, “I have to go in the gym and keep shooting.”

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Latrell Sprewell wasn’t upset with his second straight five-point outing as he was double-teamed every time he moved toward the basket. But he did commit a ghastly six turnovers, including throwing the ball out of bounds in the backcourt with 3:14 left and the Bulls still in the game.

“It’s what they were doing [defensively,]” Sprewell said of taking just seven shots, making two. “I’m reading the defense. I don’t feel bad about tonight’s performance. My team had open looks. These teams don’t stop doubling, I’m not going to try to force up shots with two guys on me. Other guys will have opportunities to have big nights.”

Charles Oakley will be a free agent at season’s end and listed the Knicks, Lakers, Wizards and hometown Cleveland as his choices . . . Clarence Weatherspoon, out two to four weeks, was placed on injured list as Larry Robinson was activated. The Knicks’ search for another big body should restart as Felton Spencer’s shoulder injury could keep him out a few games.